Can-discharging mechanism for can-washing machines.



H. u. LATHROP & w. H. PAULSON.

CAN DISCHARGING MECHANISM FOR CAN WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SUNE 911917- Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H. D. LATHROP & W. H. PAULSON.

CAN DlSCHARGlNG MECHANISM FOR CAN WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9'19?- 2 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

1% It 2t for):

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

HARRY D. LATHRO]? AND WALTER H. PAULSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAN-DISCHARGING MECHANISM FOR CAN-WASHING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Jan. 8, 1911.8.

Application filed June 9,1917. Serial No. 173,896.

To all whom it may concern) Be it known that we, HARRY D. LATHROP andVVALTER H. PAULSON, citizens of the United States, and residents of thecity of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Can-Discharging Mechanism forCan-Washing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in milk can washing machines, andhas for its object the provision of improved means for discharging milkcans from a machine of the character mentioned.

In the operation of milk can washing machines involving an inclinedguide down which the cans-travel after reversal of the same and at thetime of application of the and arrangements of parts hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the discharge end of amilk can washing machine, equipped with discharging mechanism embodyingthe invention,

Fig. 2, avertical transverse section taken on substantially line 2-2 ofFig. 3,

Fig. 3, a horizontal section through the discharge end of the-machine,and

Fig. 4, a side elevation of a portion of the construction seen in Fig.2. I

The preferred form of construction, as illustrated in the drawings, isdesigned for use in connection with a can washing machine involving asuitable framework 5 in the lower portion of which is arranged a guide 6for the support of the milk cans in the passage or sliding of the samethrough the machine, the cans during their move-' ment upon the guide 6,being subjected to the various cleaning or washing processes as d isknown by those skilled in the art.

The cans, in passing along the guide 6, are. arranged in invertedposition, and in order to efiectreversal of the. cans before thedischarge of the same from the machine,

an oscillatory can reversing device 7 is pro vided at the discharge endof said guide, said reversing device being pivotally mounted ontrunnions 8. The arrangement is such that as the cans are successivelypushed from the guide 6, the same will drop into the device 7 and bereversed thereby and deposited onto an inclined guide 9 down which eachcan, designated by A, slides by gravity.

Just after each can has been deposited onto the guide 9 and startedsliding down the same, the can is arrested in its movement by an arm 10to permit of application of the cover of the can thereto, this coverapplying mechanism being covered in a se arate application filed June 9,1917, erial No. 173,897, so that a detailed description of the same atthis time is unnecessary. The arm 10 is pivoted at 11 and is adapted totraverse the path of the can in front of the latter. Said arm is formedwith an outwardly projecting portion which extends through an elongatedslot 12 in a plate 13 carried by a reciprocatory actuating bar 14, asclearly seen in Fig. 4:. The arrangement is such as will be seen, thatrocking of the arm 10 to arrest or release a can is effected throughreciprocation of the bar 14, said arm being f course rocked totraversing position upon forward movement of said bar, or to the left,as seen in Fig. 3, said arm being released to allow for continuedmovement of a can, upon movement of said bar in the opposite direction.

It has been found that after thus arresting the movement of a can, thelatter does not start to move fast enough of its own weight, frequentlyresulting in a can being in the way of the succeeding can, that is inclogging the discharge guide 9.

In order to positively prevent this clogging, an arm 15 is provided,arranged at the side of guide 9, and pivoted at 16 to permit of swingingof said am in a sub.- stantially horizontal plane across the ath of acan traveling down said guide 9. and arm 15, like the arm 10, is alsoformedwith an outward extension which engages 1n an elongated slot 17formed in the plate 13 so that swinging of said arm 15 will also becontrolled through reciprocation of bar 14:. The arrangement is suchthat, upon forward movement of bar 14', to the left as seen in Fig. 3,the arm 15 will be rocked to nontraversing or inoperative position, asseen in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and, upon movement of said bar in theopposite direction, said arm will be swung forwardly to traversingposition, as seen 1n full lines in Fig. 3.

The arrangement is such that, in the operation of the machine, as a canstarts down the guide, '9 after being deposited thereon from thereversing devlce 7, the same will be arrested by the arm 10, the arm 15,during this time, being in non-traversing or inoperative position. Uponrelease of the can, such as is effected through rearward movement of thebar 14, the arm 15 will be suddenly and violently swung out intoengagement "with the rearward side of the can effecting thrusting orkicking of the can down said guide,-as will be readily understood. Inthis way, each can will be positively discharged from the machine beforethe succeeding can is deposited onto the discharge guide, insuringagainst interference between the cans or clogging of the dischargeguide.

The slots 12 and 17 are'of proper lengths to secure the proper timing inthe movement of the arms 10 and 15, and said arms are 'formed with stops18 and 19 which are adapted to engage against the outer side of theplate 13 to limit rockin of said arms. While we have illustrate anddescribed the preferred form of construction for carrying our inventionmto efl 'ect, this is capable of variation and modification withoutdeparting from thespirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish tobe limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desireto avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Having described our invention what we 1.-In a washin machine of theclass described, the combination of a guide for the objects passedthrough the machine; an arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends atone side of said guide whereby, through rocking, of said arm, one endthereof may be swung into engagement with an object on said guide tothrust the same along said guide; and means for rocking said armcomprising a reciprocatory member having an elongated slot thereinengaged by one end of said arm, substantially as described.

2. In a washing machine of the class described, the combination of aguide for the objects passed through the machine; an arm pivotallymounted intermediate its ends at one side of said guide whereby,throughrocking of said arm, one end thereof may be swung into engagementwith an object on said guide to thrust the same along said guide; meansfor rocking said arm comprising a reciprocatory member having anelongated slot therein engaged by one end of said arm; and a stop onsaid end of said arm adapted for engagement with said reciprocatorymember for limiting -rocking movement of said arm, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof we have signed our

